Consumer optimism toward the housing market gained some momentum last month following a dip in December, likely getting a boost from their increasingly positive financial outlook, according to results from Fannie Mae’s January 2015 National Housing Survey™.

The share of respondents who says their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago rose 4 percentage points to 29 percent, and the share expecting their personal financial situation to improve over the next year increased to 48 percent – both all-time survey highs.

After dropping in December, the share who says it is a good time to buy a home increased 3 percentage points to 67 percent, and the share saying they would buy rather than rent if they were to move jumped 5 percentage points to 66 percent, marking the first increase since September 2014.

“Consumers are as positive about their personal finances at the start of 2015 as they have been since we launched the National Housing Survey in 2010, and this optimism seems to be spilling over into housing market attitudes,” says Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. “Consumers are more optimistic about the environment both for buying and for selling a home today, and the share who plan to own on their next move has jumped back up, reversing a three-month trend toward renting. These results are in line with lender optimism about future growth in their mortgage origination business, as shown in our Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey™. Overall, these are good signs to start off 2015 and are consistent with our expectation that strengthening employment and economic activity will boost the speed of the housing recovery.”
Homeownership and Renting

The average 12-month home price change expectation rose to 2.5 percent.

The share of respondents who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months rose to 49 percent. The share who say home prices will go down remained constant at 8 percent.

The share of respondents who say mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months decreased by 3 percentage points to 45 percent.

Those who say it is a good time to buy a house increased to 67 percent. Those who say it is a good time to sell increased to 44 percent—tying an all-time survey high.

The percentage of respondents who expect home rental prices to go up in the next 12 months fell slightly to 52 percent.

The share of respondents who think it would be easy to get a home mortgage today fell to 50 percent, while the share saying it would be difficult to get a mortgage rose 3 percentage points to 47 percent.

The share who say they would buy if they were going to move rose to 66 percent, while the share who would rent decreased 5 percentage points to 29 percent.

The Economy and Household Finances

The share of respondents who say the economy is on the right track increased by 3 percentage points to 44 percent.

The percentage of respondents who expect their personal financial situation to get better over the next 12 months increased to 48 percent—an all-time survey high.

The share of respondents who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago rose 4 percentage points to 29 percent—an all-time survey high.

The share of respondents who say their household expenses are significantly higher than they were 12 months increased to 35 percent.

In today’s real estate market, curb appeal is about more than neighborhood drive-bys and official home showings. That’s because, if there’s one thing you can bet about today’s potential homebuyer, it’s that he or she is searching online. Thanks to a bevvy of easy-access real estate websites, it’s simpler than ever for anyone with a computer and an Internet connection to find details about homes for sale. And whether you’ve got a listing filled with photos or none at all, interested buyers can input your address and view the front of your home through Google’s Street View.

So how does your property look? When a potential buyer pulls up a picture of the front of your home, will it delight or disgust? To help you make sure you’re making the most of your online curb appeal, here are some specific tips for strategically staging the exterior of your home.

Clean Up the Landscaping: Buyers like a fresh, manicured appearance, so if you have any overgrown bushes or trees, take care of them fast. Mow the lawn regularly. Rake the leaves. Cut down rotted trees. Sweep away debris on walkways or the front porch. Add colorful flowers. Not only can caring for your plants and lawn improve the way your home looks to buyers — it can showcase more of your house. Free from overgrown brush, your residence will be front and center, ready for buyers to fall in love.

Declutter: Sure, you love the wacky, colorful lawn furniture your aunt made you — but to buyers, they just look cheap and junky. That’s why you need to get rid of all clutter and personal artifacts when selling. Toys, furniture, lawn ornaments, signs — anything that doesn’t make a home’s curb appeal look more beautiful and inviting should go. Make it as easy as possible for buyers to imagine themselves calling your property home.

Make Any Needed Repairs: If the front of your home needs work, it will be the first thing buyers notice. Repair or remove the broken storm door. Replace the dingy home numbers. Switch the busted porch light. Get that broken window fixed. When buyers pull up your home’s photo you want them to notice how pretty it looks, not how much work they’d have to do to fix it.

Update the Façade: Whether you replace all the siding completely or pay for a professional paint job, you want to find a way to update your home’s exterior. Make it look fresh and clean with a new look, one that modernizes your home’s style or simply shows that the property has been cared for.

Power Wash the Deck: It won’t cost a bundle to power wash your front deck, but it will go a long way toward improving the look of your home. If you don’t own a power washer, rent one for the day from a local home-improvement store.

Clean Up the Garage: It should go without saying that the garage needs to look its best when your home is on the market, particularly if it has front-facing doors. Repair any damages and, if the budget allows, consider replacing outdated doors with something a little more eye-catching like custom doors that feature windows at the tops. While you’re at it, declutter and clean out the inside of the garage — in order to make it a place to store cars and not all your out-of-season storage items.

Staging your home’s curb appeal for the Web does take time and money, but it’s an investment well worth the effort. In return for your updates, you’ll gain a home that’s worth more to potential buyers, as well as one that will draw in prospects the minute they see it on their computer screens. Use the tips above to get started!Justin White is the Marketing Director for Mid Atlantic Door Group, the leading distributor for Overhead Door Corp.

For expert advice on staging your home for web appeal and a faster sale for your Houston home contact

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